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Treatments and drugs

By Mayo Clinic staff

Morphea has no known cure. Treatment of morphea focuses on controlling the signs and symptoms and slowing its spread.

Because morphea may get better on its own without treatment, and most treatments have side effects, your doctor may suggest no treatment or treatment with a mild topical corticosteroid cream. For more widespread morphea, or if your face is involved, your doctor may recommend additional treatments, such as:

  • Calcipotriene cream (Dovonex). This treatment is a synthetic form of vitamin D that may help lessen the effects of morphea. Skin generally begins to improve during the first months of treatment. Possible side effects include burning, stinging and a rash.
  • Light therapy. A special treatment that uses ultraviolet light may improve your skin's appearance, especially when used soon after skin changes appear.
  • Corticosteroids. Your doctor may prescribe these medications early in the course of treatment, to reduce inflammation and prevent thickening of the collagen. They can be taken either orally or topically or in both forms. An increased risk of infection, high blood pressure, bone loss and fluid retention are possible side effects associated with the use of oral corticosteroids.
  • Antimalarial drugs. Medications such as hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) or chloroquine (Aralen) may help reduce inflammation and slow the progress of the disease. Potential side effects may include headache, dizziness, diarrhea and abdominal cramping.
  • Immunosuppressive medications. Your doctor may prescribe drugs, such as methotrexate (Rheumatrex) or cyclosporine (Neoral, Gengraf, Sandimmune), to control your immune system and reduce inflammation. However, these medications can have serious side effects, including an increased risk of infections, kidney and liver problems, and high blood pressure.
  • Physical therapy. This type of treatment uses stretching, strengthening and range-of-motion exercises to improve the mobility of your joints.
Lifestyle and home remedies Tests and diagnosis
References
  1. Falanga V, et al. Morphea. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2003. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2968193. Accessed March 25, 2010.
  2. Localized scleroderma. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Maryland Heights, Mo.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00026-2--s0690&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00026-2--s0695&uniq=191199955&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=973634049. Accessed March 25, 2010.
  3. Scleroderma. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Scleroderma/default.asp. Accessed March 25, 2010.
  4. Localized scleroderma. Scleroderma Foundation. http://www.scleroderma.org/pdf/Medical_Brochures/Localized.pdf. Accessed March 25, 2010.
  5. Dovonex (prescribing information). Dublin, Ireland: Leo Laboratories; 2007. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/020611s007,020554s007,020273s009lbl.pdf. Accessed March 25, 2010.
  6. Prednisone. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed March 26, 2010.
  7. Franks AG. Skin manifestations of internal disease. Medical Clinics of North America. 2009;93:1265.
  8. Plaquenil (prescribing information). Bridgewater, N.J.: Sanofi-Aventis; 2006. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/009768s041lbl.pdf. Accessed March 25, 2010.
  9. Neoral (prescribing information). East Hanover, N.J.: Novartis; 2009. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/050715s028,050716s029lbl.pdf. Accessed March 25, 2010.
  10. Methotrexate (prescribing information). Fort Lee, N.J.: Dava Pharmaceuticals; 2009. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/008085s063lbl.pdf. Accessed March 25, 2010.
  11. Yancey KB, et al. Immunologically mediated skin diseases. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2868360. Accessed March 25, 2010.
  12. Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed March 25, 2010.
  13. Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 30, 2010.
DS00718 May 6, 2010

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